I just received a new Mac Mini, which I'll be using without a monitor, but I'm thus far unable even to start VoiceOver. I've got an external keyboard plugged in, but when I hold down the Command key and hit F5, I get just that tap sound that lets me know something is wrong.
I feel like I'm missing something obvious, but can't figure it out. Help, please.
And thanks.
Howard
By Howard, 29 May, 2021
Forum
Apple Hardware and Compatible Accessories
Comments
try fn plus command plus f5.
try fn plus command plus f5.
I'm sorry to report that…
I'm sorry to report that that didn't do the trick. Still just the bad sound. But I do appreciate your suggestion.
Special Adapter
Hello,
There is a special adapter you have to have plugged in inorder for the mac mini to work without a monitor. I am not sure what its called though. You might be able to find it here on applevis.
Display emulator dongle
I don't have personal experience with this, so I could be wrong, but I believe that if you want to run a Mac mini in headless mode and won't be connecting via another Mac or PC, you will need to use a dongle that essentially tricks the Mac in to thinking that a monitor is connected.
Here are some at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/headless-HDMI-adapter/s?k=headless+HDMI+adapter
Same Happened Here
I don’t know how I did it, but I eventually got this issue sorted out back when I got my Mac Mini. I can tell you though, from what I remember, it wasn’t a display issue. I thought it was too, but then I connected to a TV supporting HDMI, and I still had trouble. What I can remember about what was on the screen during the issue was a white square in the center that flipped between two line drawings I couldn’t figure out with something that looked like an arrow in a circle underneath. It’s possible something needed to be clicked because I tried attaching a trackpad and clicked randomly, since I couldn’t find the pointer, if there was one, but I can’t be sure. If someone actually knows what happened, I’d love to know.
I'll say this: I could not…
I'll say this: I could not be more disappointed with Apple and the way this whole nightmare has worked out for me. I got a new Mac Mini and was looking forward to getting it up and running today. Hah! Joke's on me. I use a MacBook Air for my work and my daily doings, and have for years now -- happily, too. But I also use a Mac Mini as a music server, and have done so, without a monitor, also for years now. Decided it was time to upgrade, got a new M1 Mini -- and immediately ran into trouble. Trouble that so-called chats -- online typing -- with folk at Apple couldn't fix. Nor could phone calls and plenty of time on hold, etc.
All I want to do is fire up VO with the standard keyboard command, but that's not working. C'mon, man!
If I cannot start up VO with FN+F5 without a monitor plugged in and without sighted assistance -- which is how it seems at the moment -- then Apple has been badly backsliding in terms of accessibility.
If you are thinking of running a Mac Mini without a monitor and do not have one to get the thing running -- and do not have a sighted person to assist you at the start -- I'd recommend that you don't bother. Because it seems impossible.
Apple spends so much time patting itself on the back about its work on "equity" and all the rest, touting its greatness on race, etc., etc., etc. That's great and all. But it all rings hollow to this blind man right now as my new Mini is worthless since I can't even fire up VoiceOver.
If Tim Cook worried a little less about the big picture -- climate, equity, blah, blah blah -- and actually made sure that his products worked for blind folks who bought them, I wouldn't think him and his company so shallow.
And that's my rant -- for now.
-- Howard